Where Do We Go Now?

(google images)

So. The song "Sweet Child of  Mine" by the 80's hairband Guns and Roses is stuck in my head. Specifically the line "Where do we go now? Where do we go?" Over and over it plays threatening to make me CRAZY! What prompted that song? Thinking about my writing plan for the day. So stupid really. So as I sit here making my plan I'm singing "Where do we go now? Where do we go?" Am I getting any work done? OF COURSE NOT! Ironically, I'm not even a G&R fan - well, I was in high school, but not NOW! And it's been a LONG time since I've even heard that song. Crazy.

I found this incredibly awesome blog today. While I'm no where near the marketing phase of anything I was impressed with the creative marketing technique of this author. Check it out. This site also offers pitch critiques!

Another great blog that I've been loving is this one. Such practical and timely writing tips here. And every Wednesday there is a query for critique feature where a reader sends in a query and we readers can comment on them. My query will be on the site next week! I'm nervous just thinking about it!! Anyway, check it out!

So, it is time for me to figure out "Where do we go now?" and get off the distracting internet. Wish me luck!

The Mocking Screen

We have a Winter Storm Warning posted for today and tonight. Finally. I love a good snowy storm. And as I type this the very first flakes have started to fall. Ah, winter. I do love the beauty of a snow covered landscape. It's all so fresh and clean. The dead, brown grass is hidden from view. The bare tree branches are decorated with a fluffy white coating. And evergreens sag to the ground from the weight of snow on their boughs creating a magical wonderland. We haven't had enough of winter's beauty this year, so I will welcome the impending storm with open arms - and a snow shovel.

While I do love the fresh, clean look of a white landscape, I don't much like the look of a blank, white computer screen. It can be daunting, don't you think? Even when I know what I'd like to write it seems difficult sometimes to fill up the screen with words. Frustrating? - Yes. Stressful? Can be. Nerve wracking? Not too much, I guess. So what to do when the blank, white screen stares at you mocking your every attempt at filling it up? Lace up the boots, put on the mittens, zip up the parka, and get out an enjoy the beauty outside - AWAY from the computer.

It Wasn't Obvious To Me

Funny how something so obvious managed to slip past me without even a blip on my radar screen. Thanks to an email from a writing friend, I've had a revelation of sorts in my writing world. She was saying how she seemed to be spending gobs of time developing the characters in her first book - a YA novel. She interviews them, writes about them from their POV, and gets to know who they are and how they'll fit in her story. Not only does she guide her created characters into existence, she lets them guide her. Pretty cool, actually.

I've written some non-fiction pieces for magazines and have understood the importance of knowing my characters - but in non-fiction our characters are REAL; we don't have to create them, but we do have to understand and relate to them. I get that part. Here's where the obvious slipped past me -- I think I figured that writing picture book stories didn't require that same 'get to know your character' thing. I know who my characters are and how I want to portray them, but do I really KNOW them? What's their favorite color, ice cream, or game? Do they have siblings or live with Grandma or have a best friend? True that most of these details won't fit into a PB story, but sometimes not only will they fit, they are the difference between mediocrity and excellency in story telling. Yes? I think I will incorporate some of my friends techniques and get inside my MC's head.

I know I'm new to this, and once again I've probably revealed something that every other writer on the planet already figured out, but just in case I'm not alone I thought I'd fill you in ...

A Writing Tip From A Newbie?

As a relative newbie to the world of writers I have a very limited number of tips to offer. And quite frankly, the tips I do have have no doubt already been offered by someone else. But, I'll give it a go anyway. You see yesterday I sat at my  desk determined to be productive. After a couple of hours of writing, deleting, writing, and deleting I looked very much like the poor fellow in the picture here. Frustrated does not adequately describe how I felt. It's one thing to sit in front of the computer intending to work, only to be distracted by e-mail, and Facebook, and Twitter. On those occasions I have no one but myself to blame for my lack of productivity. But, to sit down with what I thought was a great story idea, and NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE IT, well, that just STINKS! The words just weren't there. Every which way I tried to get it out of my head just wouldn't work.
So, what did I do? Here's where the tip comes in. I switched gears. I put some music on - LOUD music. Then I made a list of the writing related goals I have for this week. After a little while on that I printed out the critiques of my most recent submission to my wonderful crit group so I could prepare to revise that story. And as a non-published picture book writer I need to spend time on submitting my work - it really is the only way to get published from what I hear. So more researching agents for a couple of stories I have ready, and writing cover letters is on the agenda as well. Switching gears allows me to stay in the creative zone and avoid being overwhelmed by frustration.

Keeping my mind busy with writing related stuff is a good way to get those creative juices flowing. Maybe I'll need to avoid the story that's stuck in my head for a couple of days. I'll let it roll around in there, but I won't consciously try to force it out. When the time is right to tackle writing it again, I'll be ready...